Internal-combustion engine



E. -V. BEALS. INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 14,1916. RENEWED NOV. 20, 1918.

1,398,667. atented N'0v. 29, 1921.

UNITE STATES ERL V. BEALS, 0F ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, MASSACHUSETTS.

INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 29, 1921.-

Application filed June 14, 1916, Serial No. 104,126. Renewed November20, 1918. Serial No. 263,438.'

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ERL BnALs, a citizen of the United States, residingin Arlington Heights, in the county of Middlesex and State ofMassachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Internal-CombustionEngines, of which the following description, in connection with theaccompanying drawings, is a specification, like letters on the drawingsrepresenting like parts.

The present invention relates to an internal combustion engine, and isembodied in improved means for injecting a liquid, preferably water,into the combustion chamber at the time of the explosion, for thepurpose of absorbing and utilizing the excess heat, which is commonlycarried off and wasted. The invention can be embodied in a completeappliance adapted to be incorporated in existing engines, or it may bemade as an integral part of an engine properly designed for the purpose.

In accordance with the invention, the apparatus consists of an injectingdevice op erated by the force of the exploding gases themselves, and soarranged as to introduce into the cylinder, each time an explosion takesplace, a certain amount of water prop erly proportioned to the amount offuel which is being burned.

An important feature of the invention consistsv in automaticallyregulating the amount of liquid introduced at each cycle so that theinvention is practically adapted for use with variable speed enginessuch as those used in automobile work.

In accordance with the invention, there is a reservoir capable ofcontaining the maximum amount ofliquid needed for each explosion, andthis reservoir is continually filled to its capacity; To expel the waterfrom the reservoir a plunger is provided with a piston or abutmentadapted "to be directly acted upon by the force of the exploding gasesand moved to an extent sufficient to expel all the liquid in thereservoir.

In order, however, to control the amount of water expelled, the deviceis provided-with a secondary plunger also acted upon by the explodinggases and arranged to operate a variable controlling device whereby aportion of the water in the reservoir is allowed to escape without beingforced into the engine cylinder, in case the charge is lighter than themaximum.

The amount of liquid thus allowed to escape is delicately regulated bythe supplemental controlling device so that the amount used at eachexplosion is exactly the amount required. The automatic controllingdevice is further provided with means for initial regulation and is soarranged that this regulation can be made while the engine is running.

It isan important feature'of theinvention that the regulation, as wellasthe injecting action itself, is brought about by' the pressure of theburning charge, so that the actions are'simultaneous.

Figure, 1 is a longitudinal section of an appliance embodying theinvention shown as attachable to a cylinder of any existing internalcombustion engine; Fig. 2 is an elevation of the upper portion of Fig. 1looking toward the left; Fig; 3 is a detail showing an air chamberconnected to the liquid inlet shown in Fig. 1; Figs. 4 and 5 are detailsto be hereinafter referred to.

' Referring to Fig. 1, the appliance eniibodying the invention consistsof a cylindrical shell 1 having at one side an opening 2 in which iscoupled the inlet passage 3' for the liquid. At the end of the casingthere is an extension 4 which is adapted to be fastenedinan opening inthe engine cylinder so that the explosive gases pass through saidextension'and act on the op erative parts which are contained in thecasing 1. y

The part ofthe device which is acted upon directly by theexploding gasesis a piston or plunger 5 locatedin the lower part of the casing 1, thesaid piston being hollow as shown at 6 and provided with piston rings 7near the lower endto prevent the exploding gases from entering thecasing 1. The hollow part 6 surrounds *a stationary downward GX'CGI1"passage 12 in the projection 8 thus keeping piston which leads to saidoutlet being sur rounded by a valve seat 14 upon which a valve 15 isnormally pressed by means of a spring 16, the strength of which issufficient to maintain said valve seated against any pressure less thanthat of the burning gases. The said valve 15 is mounted in a spider 17 asection of which is shown in detail, Fig. 4, the said valve being packedin an internal bore in said spider 17 which also constitutes a casingfor the spring 16. This spider is closed at the top and is stationarywith relation to the plunger 5, being screw-threaded in the open endthereof. In spite of the packing of this. valve, there is possibilitythat liquid may get into the interior of the spider and interfere withthe working of the valve so that as a matter of precaution I haveprovided the said valve with a by-p ass 18 and a light check valve 19which will .permit the escape of any water within the spider withoutinterfering in any way with the normal operation. So far as relates tothe piston 5 the operation of the explosion is to force the said pistonupward in the casing 1, so that the water in the reservoir 6 will bedis- 7 charged by the stationary plunger 8 through the valve 14 into theengine cylinder.

In order, however, to control the amount of liquid actuallyinjected intothe cylinder, I have provided means whereby a regulable amount of theliquid contained in the reservoir 6 may be provided with a separateavenue of escape so that only part thereof is forced into the enginecylinder.

For this purpose, I have provided the appliance above the partition 9with a chamber 20 in direct communication with the passage 12, thecapacity of said chamber being regnlable and the said chamber being ofsuiiicient capacity to contain the maximum amount of water which can becontainedin the reservoir 6. This chamber is provided with a piston 21through which there is a passage 22 controlled by a check valve 23 topermit water from the intake 3 to flow freely into the chambers 20 and 6although no water can flow back beyond the chamber20 With the parts inthe position shown, the piston 21 is at the bottom of the chamber 20;and so I long as it is allowed to remain there, the

the water in the said chamber 6 will flow back into the additional spacethus provided; and since the preponderating pressure is on the piston21, the latter will yield instead of the valve 15, so that no water willpass into the engine cylinder until the piston 21 is positivelyarrested.

The area of the piston 21 is much greater than that of thevalve 15, andwhile the said piston is provided with a spring 35, the purpose of whichwill be hereinafter described, this spring is much weaker than thespring 16 which tends to close the valve 15. If, therefore, the movementof the piston 21 were not positively controlled as to its extent, thesaid piston would travel the full extent of movement permitted at eachex-- plosion of the fuel in the engine cylinder; and the valve 15 wouldremain permanently closed. In this case the water would merely pass backand forth between the chambers 6 and 20, and none would be injected intothe engine cylinder at all. r p

The movement of the piston 21 which due to the displacement of the waterbelow it, as described, is, however, controlled as to its extent by thepressure of the exploding gases; and the arrangement is suchthat theamount of water allowed to escape from the chamber 6 into the chamber 20is directly proportional to the strength of the explosion. Thisoperation is provided for by means of a, movable stop which is under thedirect influence of the gas pressure, and the position of said stopdetermines the position where the piston is arrested, and thereforedetermines the capacity of the chamber 20,

I have shown the stop which controls the extent of movement of thepiston 21 as consisting of a wedge 22 which is longitudinally movablebetween a stationary abutment 23 at the end of the casing 1 and amovable abutment 24 which is connected by means of a bolt 25 with thepiston 21. The abutments 23 and 24 are provided with inclined surfacesat opposite sides of the wedge 22; and the bolt 25 is so arranged, asshown, that there is a slight lost motion connection between theabutment 24 and the piston 21 so that the wedge 22 is always free tomove without binding when, there is no pressure exerted on the piston21. The longitudinal movement of the wedge-22 is controlled directly bythe force of the explosion, said wedge being shown as connected with arocker arm 26 pivoted at 27 and provided with gear teeth 28 in mesh witha rack 29 connected with a plunger 30 the end of which enters acylindrical chamber 31 and constitutes a small piston which receives theforce of the correspond ing gases through a passage 32 from theextension 4. WVhen, therefore, an explosion takes place, the plunger 30will be moved a certain extent which is directly proportional to theforce of the explosion and will correspondingly move the wedge 22, thuscontrolling the extent of movement permitted the piston 21. i

The movement of the plunger caused by the pressure of the gases, isopposed by the spring 32, the strength of which is properly proportionedto the pressure area of the plunger 30, and the initial position of thewedge 22 can be controlled by an adjust-' ment nut 33 having a knurledportion 34 whereby the entire plunger 30 can be moved up and down withrelation to the casing 1, without changing the tension ofthe spring 32which ,isaccurately and permanently fixed. In the position shown it isassumed that an explosion of maximum pressure has just taken placeforcing the plunger to its upward limit so that the wedge 22 is in sucha position as to prevent any movement of the piston 21.

'The valve 15 is also shown as open and it is assumed that the piston 5is about to move upward. In this case it is obvious that the entirecontents of the reservoir 6 will be forcibly ejected into the enginecylinder.

If'we assume however, the opposite extreme, that is an explosion solight that it will not unseat the valve 15 or move the plunger 30, thewedge 22 will be withdrawn to a position corresponding to the dottedline position of the arm 26 and the piston 21 will be free to moveupward its entire extent so that the water in the reservoir 6 will flowback into the chamber 20, none being injected into the engine cylinderat all. In this case, the water lying between the piston 21 and theupper part of the casing will be forced back into the inlet pipe thesaid inlet pipe being provided with a controlling valve the constructionof which will be hereinafter described. In order to insure the promptreturn of the piston 21 to its normal position, I have provided saidpiston with a spring 35 which tends to hold thepiston at the bottom ofthe chamber. This spring as previously stated, is much lighter than thespring which holds the valve 15 seated, so that when a light charge isin the engine cylinder, the action, so far-as relatesto theinjection ofliquid into: the engine cylinder IS i I I 1 w The valve which controlsthe water inlet is so arranged as to permit the water, under plodmgcharge for forcing llqnld mto the whatever pressure is used to maintainthe supply, to flow freely into the casing 1 when unopposed by any otherpressure, provision being made, however, to allow the water to flow backunder the influence of the exploding gases when the conditions are suchthat only a portion of the water in the reservoir 6 is tobe admitted tothe engine cylinder. The inlet valve, which is a light check valve 36,is located at the inner end of a cup 37, having outlet openings 38 atthe closedv end for the escape of the water, the said cup having wingsor extensions 39 which are threaded so that the cup spider fitting inthe tube 40 and having a.

bore 42 through which the water passes to the valve 36 and thence to thecasing 1.

At 1ts inner end, the said valve 41 cooperates with a seat 43 at the endof the tube 40, and is normally held closed by means of a stiff spring44 ofpredetermined strength'which bears at its inner end against astationary abutment 45 which is screwed into the tube 40 and hasopenings 46 through Which the liquid can pass.

In the operation of the device, the water flows freely into the chamber6 at all times when there is no opposing pressure from the enginecylinder, so that the said chamber 6 is continually filled to its entirecapacity. ,When, however, the wedge 22 is in such aposition as to admitof the movement of the piston21 under the excess pressure of theexplosion, the said pressure will be transmitted through the mass ofwater trapped above the piston 21 to the end of a spider whichconstitutes the secondary into the inlet; but the parts are restored totheir normal position by the spring 44 just as soon as the excesspressure is relieved by the gases.

In order to. prevent water hammer due to the suddenshock of excesspressure and the forcing of the water back against the normal pressure,the inlet pipe is provided beyond the valve with an air dome or chamber46' of sufficient size to cushion the shock effectually. p I

What I claim is 1. Inan internal combustion engine, the combination withthe explosion chamber; of means operated by the pressure of theexsaid'explosion chamber while the charge is burning; and a separatedevice also open ated by the pressure of the exploding charge forregulating the vamount of liquid forced into the cylinder. 7

2.-The combination with the engine cylinder; of a chamber adapted tocontain liquid; a plunger operated by pressure in the engine cylinder,said plungerbeing adapted to expel the entire contents of said chamber;a pressure controlled valve governing an outlet from said chamberleading to the engine cylinder; a supplemental chamber in freecommunication with said chamber for liquid; and means for automaticallyregulating the size of said supplemental chamber.

3. In an internal combustion engine, the combination with the enginecylinder; of means actuated by the pressure of the burning charge forinjecting liquid into said cylinder while the gases are burning; andmeans also actuated by said pressure andopcrating independently of thefirst mentioned means for automatically regulating the amount of liquidinjected.

4:. In an internal combustion engine, the combination with the enginecylinder; of a plunger actuated directly by the pressure of the burninggases in said cylinder; a chamber for liquid; means for keeping saidchamber continually supplied with liquid, the liquid being expelled fromsaid chamber into the engine cylinder; a secondary plunger also acted onby the pressure of the burning gases; and a device operated by saidsecondary plunger for determining the proportional amountof liquidexpelled from said chamber into the engine cylinder.

5. A device for injecting liquid into the combustion chamber of anengine comprising a chamber for liquid; means for supplying said chamberwith liquid; a plunger adapted by its movement to expel the liquid fromsaid chamber; a supplemental chamber in free communication with thechamber first named; means for varying the capacity of said chamber; anda secondary plunger directly operating said varying means; both of saidplungers being directly acted on by the pressure in the engine cylinder.7

6. In an internal combustion engine, the combination with the enginecylinder; of a main chamber adapted to contain liquid; a supplementalchamber in open communication with the main chamber; a movable pistonconstituting one wall of said supplemental chamber; a movable elementadapted by its own movement to variably control the movement of saidpiston and thereby vary the capacity ofthe supplemental chamber; a mainplunger adapted to expel the liquid from the main chamber; and asupplemental plunger connected with said movable element, both of saidplungers being directly subjected to the pressures in the enginecylinder.

7Q In an internal combustion engine, the combination with the explosionchamber, of means operated solely by the pressure of the explodingcharge for forcing water into said chamber, and means actuated by thepressure and moving independently of the first mentioned means forautomatically regulating the amount of water introduced at eachexplosion.

8. In combination with the cylinder of an internal combustion engine,means operated solely by the pressure due to com-- bustion for forcingwater into said cylinder,

and means independent of the movement of the first mentloned meansdependent upon said pressure for determining the amount of waterintroduced.

9. In combination with a cylinder of an internal combustion engine,means comprising a plunger subjected to pressure within the cylinder forforcing a liquid into the cylinder, and means responsive to the pressure within the cylinder and arranged to operate in advance of saidplunger for controlling the extent of the liquid forcing movement or"said plunger.

10. In combination with a cylinder of an internal combustion engine, anagent mov able in response to pressure within said cylinder for forcingliquid into the engine cylinder, and means responsive to pressure withinsaid cylinder and arranged to operate in advance of said agent forcontrolling the operation of said agent.

11. In combination with a cylinder of an internal combustion engine,means responsave to the explosion pressure within said cylinder forforclng llquid into sald cylinder, and means responsive to the pressurewithin said cylinder and adapted to operate in advance of said liquidforcing means for controlling the operation of said means.

12. In combination with a cylinder ofan internal combustion engine,means responsive to the explosion pressure within said cylinderit'orforcing liquid into-the cylinder, and quick acting means responsivetopressure within said cylinder and operating in advance of said liquidforcing means for controlling the operation of the liquid foreand openedby liquid pressure accasioned by a movement of the plunger, and meansfor regulating the amount of liquid delivered,

comprising means movable in response to variations in liquid pressureoccasioned by a pressure IGSPOIlSlVGHIOVBIIlBDt of said plunger, and astop movable to different posi-' tions and actuated by pressure Withinthe and quick acting means responsive to prescylinder for regulating thedelivery of sure Within the cylinder and arranged to op- 10 liquid tothe cylinders. V erate in advance of said sluggishly operating 14. Incombination with a cylinder of an means for controlling the amount ofliquid 5 internal combustion engine, sluggishly opforced into saidcylinder. n

crating means responsive to the explosion In testimony whereof, I havesigned my pressure Within the engine cylinder for forcname to thisspecification. ing liquid under pressure into said cylinder, ERL V.BEALS.

